Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken (about 3 pounds), washed, patted dry and cut into quarters
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon Louisiana-style hot sauce
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• Sea salt
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 1/2 cup lard, melted and heated (or hot frying oil)
• 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Pickle slices, for serving

Instructions

1. Dry-brine the chicken: In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper; cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours.
2. Make the dip and dredge: In a bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and hot sauce. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and 2 teaspoons sea salt.
3. Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, then dip in the milk mixture, then in the flour mixture again, shaking off the excess after each step.
4. Heat the vegetable oil in a deep-fryer to 325 degrees F. Set a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet and set aside. Working in batches, lower the chicken into the fryer and fry until crisp, 15 to 17 minutes for breast quarters and 18 to 20 minutes for leg quarters. Remove the chicken and let it drain on the rack.
5. Make the spicy coating: Carefully ladle the lard or frying oil into a medium heatproof bowl and whisk in the cayenne pepper, brown sugar, 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, the paprika and garlic powder. Baste the spice mixture over the hot fried chicken and serve immediately; garnish with pickles.
6. Photograph by Evan Sung